Old Photograph Pier Fairlie Scotland

Old photograph of boats at the pier in Fairlie on the eastern shore of the Firth of Clyde, in North Ayrshire, Scotland. King David I of Scotland appointed Sir Richard de Morville, a Norman, to hold land in Scotland. Thus he became High Constable of Scotland and Lord of Cunninghame, Largs and Lauderdale. This piece of land was later sub divided among Richard's relatives and friends, and, in the 13th century, the land of Fairlie was held by the Ross family of Tarbert, the land to the North was held by the Boyle family and to the South by the Sempill family. According to ancient records it would appear that Fairlie developed as a fishing village, as it had a good, sheltered anchorage that was fully used in the 16th century. Weaving also began to help the prosperity of the village as the demand for Paisley shawls increased. It was in the late 18th century that John Fife came from Kilbirnie to set up business as a cartwright in Fairlie. His son William (born in 1785) founded Fife Yachts brought to international fame by William's grandson, also called William. Fife Yachts were built in Fairlie until well into the 20th century.



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Old Photograph Fairground Wishaw Scotland

Old photograph of the Fairground in Wishaw, Scotland. A large Scottish town and former burgh in North Lanarkshire, Scotland, Wishaw is located on the edge of the Clyde Valley, 15 miles south east of Glasgow. One notable visitor to Wishaw in the middle of the 19th century was the Polish composer Frédéric Chopin. In the summer of 1848 Chopin travelled to Scotland at the behest of his Scottish benefactor Miss Jane Stirling. Chopin stayed with a number of families and played concerts in both Glasgow and Edinburgh. Chopin was entertained at Wishaw house and played there for the family, the Hamiltons of Belhaven.



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Old Photograph Golf Course New Galloway Scotland

Old photograph of golfers putting on the 3rd Green of the golf course in New Galloway, Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland. The first recorded steps to establish a golf club at New Galloway is the first entry in the minute book of 1902 of a public meeting held in the Town Hall on the evening of 31st January 1902 to consider the question of forming a local golf course. Mr. J C Maitland Gordon of Kenmure occupied the chair and intimated that he would be willing to give the use of the Town Park and the whinnie field adjoining which he thought would make a good nine hole course.



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Old Photograph Braal Castle Hotel Scotland

Old photograph of Braal Castle Hotel located by the River Thurso north of the village of Halkirk, Caithness, Scotland. In 1450, the original castle was bestowed by King James II upon Sir George Crichton, Lord High Admiral of Scotland, who was briefly created Earl of Caithness in 1452. In 1455, the earldom and castle were granted by James II to William Sinclair, Baron of Roslin and Lord Chancellor of Scotland. The castle passed to the Sinclairs of Ulbster, a branch of the Sinclair Earls of Caithness, in the 18th century. The Sinclairs began the building of an adjacent mansion, although construction was abandoned. In 1856 a hotel was built over these foundations. This building was requisitioned by the Armed Forces during the Second World War.



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Tour Scotland Video Drive On Road To Pass of Drumochter Highland

Tour Scotland video of part of a drive on the A9 road South from Dalwhinnie to the Pass of Drumochter in the Highlands of Scotland. This is the main mountain pass between the northern and southern central Scottish Highlands. It is the high point on the A9, at 1,508 feet, and, in winter can be subject to severe weather conditions. The A9 road passes through here, as does the Highland Main Line, the railway between Inverness and the south of Scotland. The Sustrans National Cycle Route 7 between Glasgow and Inverness also runs through the pass. The route through the pass has been used since prehistoric times. A military road built between 1728 and 1730 by General Wade came through here. The summit of the pass marks the boundary between Perthshire and the Highland Council area.

All photographs are copyright of Sandy Stevenson, Tour Scotland, and may not be used without permission.

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